High Risk Rural Roads (HRRR) High Risk Rural Roads (HRRR) Program Best PracticesProgram Best Practices

22ndnd Vision Safe DriveVision Safe Drive

Wednesday, May 20, 2009Wednesday, May 20, 2009 Rapid City, SDRapid City, SD

John DewarJohn DewarFHWA FHWA –– Office of SafetyOffice of Safety

Local, Rural, RSA, SRTS TeamLocal, Rural, RSA, SRTS Team

John Dewar John Dewar –– Team Leader Team Leader 202 366 2218, john.dewar2@dot.gov 202 366 2218, john.dewar2@dot.gov

Rosemarie Anderson Rosemarie Anderson –– Local and RuralLocal and Rural

Karen Timpone Karen Timpone –– Local and RuralLocal and Rural

Becky Crowe Becky Crowe –– Road Safety Audit (RSA) and Road Safety Audit (RSA) and Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Safe Routes to School (SRTS)

Highway SafetyHighway Safety

Approximately Approximately  8.4 million lane 8.4 million lane  milesmiles

Rural Roads Rural Roads  account for over account for over 

6 million6 million

Highway SafetyHighway Safety

National Fatality TrendsNational Fatality Trends

National Fatality Trends

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Year

Fata

litie

s

RuralUrban

Fataility Rates

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Year

Fatil

ity R

ate

RuralUrban

To Save Lives,To Save Lives, We Must PartnerWe Must Partner

We will all benefit from reducing the highway death toll.We will all benefit from reducing the highway death toll.

No single organization or agency can reduce roadway fatalities No single organization or agency can reduce roadway fatalities alone.alone.

Together, we can develop solutions.Together, we can develop solutions.

Comprehensive highway safety programs include the Comprehensive highway safety programs include the 4 4 ““EE’’ss””—— Engineering, Education, Enforcement, and Emergency Medical Engineering, Education, Enforcement, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS)Services (EMS)..

High Risk Rural Road (HRRR) High Risk Rural Road (HRRR) DefinitionDefinition

23 U.S.C. 23 U.S.C. §§148(a)(1) defines a High Risk 148(a)(1) defines a High Risk Rural Road (HRRR). States are required Rural Road (HRRR). States are required to identify these roadways (and expend to identify these roadways (and expend the HRRR funds) according to the the HRRR funds) according to the following definition:following definition:""……any roadway functionally classified any roadway functionally classified as a rural major or minor collector or a as a rural major or minor collector or a rural local road rural local road ----

HRRR Definition (Cont.)HRRR Definition (Cont.)

A. A. on which the accident rate for fatalities and on which the accident rate for fatalities and incapacitating injuries exceeds the incapacitating injuries exceeds the statewide average for those functional statewide average for those functional classes of roadway; or classes of roadway; or

HRRR Definition (Cont.)HRRR Definition (Cont.)

B. B. that will likely have increases in traffic that will likely have increases in traffic volume that are likely to create an accident volume that are likely to create an accident rate for fatalities and incapacitating injuries rate for fatalities and incapacitating injuries that exceeds the statewide average for that exceeds the statewide average for those functional classes of roadway." those functional classes of roadway."

High Risk Rural Road (HRRR) High Risk Rural Road (HRRR) FundsFunds

$90 million annual set aside from HSIP$90 million annual set aside from HSIP$359 million FY 06, 07, 08, 09 = Total$359 million FY 06, 07, 08, 09 = Total$88.8 million (25%) obligated, 3/31/09$88.8 million (25%) obligated, 3/31/09

$2,482 million (53%) HSIP obligated $2,482 million (53%) HSIP obligated $4,721 million HSIP Total$4,721 million HSIP Total

HRRR State ObligationsHRRR State Obligations

37 States obligated some37 States obligated some13 States obligated Zero13 States obligated Zero

11 States obligated > 50% of their funds11 States obligated > 50% of their funds10 states obligated > $4 million each10 states obligated > $4 million each

Top State ObligationsTop State Obligations

$9.8 million $9.8 million -- FloridaFlorida$7.6 million $7.6 million –– IllinoisIllinois$7.3 million $7.3 million -- AlabamaAlabama$7.2 million $7.2 million –– MichiganMichigan$7.1 million $7.1 million –– MissouriMissouri$5.9 million $5.9 million –– CaliforniaCalifornia$5.1 million $5.1 million –– ColoradoColorado

Top State Obligations Top State Obligations –– Cont.Cont.

$5.0 million $5.0 million –– PennsylvaniaPennsylvania$4.6 million $4.6 million –– MississippiMississippi$4.4 million $4.4 million -- South CarolinaSouth Carolina$3.3 million $3.3 million –– IndianaIndiana$2.3 million $2.3 million –– IowaIowa$2.3 million $2.3 million –– MontanaMontana$2.2 million $2.2 million -- ConnecticutConnecticut

6/10/076/10/07 FHWA Office of SafetyFHWA Office of Safety

States which obligated 50% or $4 Million of their HRRR funding

New Mexico

VirginiaWest Virginia

Alaska

Arkansas

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Iowa

Kansas

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

MinnesotaMontana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Puerto Rico

Rhode Island

South Dakota

Utah

Vermont

Washington

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Alabama

Arizona

California

Florida

Georgia

Indiana

Kentucky

Louisiana

Mississippi

Missouri

North Carolina

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

West VirginiaWest Virginia

HRRR Funds designated for County HRRR Funds designated for County Routes in the transparency report (5%)Routes in the transparency report (5%)Fatal, type A injury crashes or Lane Fatal, type A injury crashes or Lane Departure crashesDeparture crashesDistrict Engineers are evaluating projects District Engineers are evaluating projects on 19 County Routeson 19 County RoutesNo funds obligated yet No funds obligated yet

MissouriMissouri

Frequency of severe crashes Frequency of severe crashes –– use Equivalent use Equivalent Property Damage value, Fatal 6, Disabling injury Property Damage value, Fatal 6, Disabling injury 99Severity Number per mile used for local roads Severity Number per mile used for local roads where there is where there is no volume datano volume dataTotal crashes per mile also considered because Total crashes per mile also considered because there may be potential for severe crashesthere may be potential for severe crashesLocal roads did not rise up in the processLocal roads did not rise up in the process$3.7 million obligated$3.7 million obligated

MichiganMichiganAll projects are on local roads All projects are on local roads MDOT directs local agencies to website with MDOT directs local agencies to website with maps of all Fatal and Disabling Injury local maps of all Fatal and Disabling Injury local system crashes on qualifying roads (crash rate system crashes on qualifying roads (crash rate per mile) per mile) Local agencies define segments which can be Local agencies define segments which can be up to 8 miles long based on a single crashup to 8 miles long based on a single crashMDOT staff scores projects based on cost MDOT staff scores projects based on cost effectiveness, crash history, variety of factors.effectiveness, crash history, variety of factors.Force account can be used up $100 K if 6% less Force account can be used up $100 K if 6% less than contract estimate.than contract estimate.

Michigan (Cont.)Michigan (Cont.)

Project types: rumble strips, flattening Project types: rumble strips, flattening curves, signing, pavement marking, turn curves, signing, pavement marking, turn lanes, clear zone improvements, guardrail, lanes, clear zone improvements, guardrail, slope flattening, sight distance clearingslope flattening, sight distance clearingLimited to $400 K federal per projectLimited to $400 K federal per project$7.2 million obligated$7.2 million obligated

NebraskaNebraskaMonthly meetings of HRRRP Team of Neb. Monthly meetings of HRRRP Team of Neb. Dept. Of Roads, safety section, LPA traffic Dept. Of Roads, safety section, LPA traffic engineer, LTAP, and Assoc. of Highway engineer, LTAP, and Assoc. of Highway Superintendents rep and FHWA.Superintendents rep and FHWA.Traffic data limited on County roads. Evaluate Traffic data limited on County roads. Evaluate different crash factors such as horizontal curves, different crash factors such as horizontal curves, intersections, bridges, for statewide intersections, bridges, for statewide consideration.consideration.Horizontal curve signing project was very Horizontal curve signing project was very popular with 71 of 93 counties participating.popular with 71 of 93 counties participating.

Nebraska (Cont.)Nebraska (Cont.)

Other projects are 4 way intersection Other projects are 4 way intersection signing, pavement marking, signing, pavement marking, guardrail/bridge rail, lighting and curve guardrail/bridge rail, lighting and curve flattening.flattening.$1.1 million obligated$1.1 million obligated

NevadaNevada

Using HRRR funds to install centerline Using HRRR funds to install centerline rumble strips system wide on qualifying rumble strips system wide on qualifying roadwaysroadwaysUsed weighted crash count/length of route Used weighted crash count/length of route (miles) for fatal and injury crashes(miles) for fatal and injury crashesEstablished statewide average crash rate Established statewide average crash rate by dividing total weighted crash count by by dividing total weighted crash count by total lengthtotal length

Nevada (Cont.)Nevada (Cont.)

Critical rate calculated was 0.399 weighted Critical rate calculated was 0.399 weighted crashes per mile and routes above this are crashes per mile and routes above this are eligible for HRRR fundingeligible for HRRR funding$1 million obligated$1 million obligated

MontanaMontanaDeveloped approach for county roads (55,000 Developed approach for county roads (55,000 miles) based on crashes per mile to identify sites miles) based on crashes per mile to identify sites of interest within each township and range with of interest within each township and range with 15 crashes or more (low population areas) and 15 crashes or more (low population areas) and 20 crashes or more (in 3 counties with 20 crashes or more (in 3 counties with MPOsMPOs))MDT conducts field reviews to determine MDT conducts field reviews to determine potential countermeasures, and sites with potential countermeasures, and sites with highest B/C ratio are sent to Transportation highest B/C ratio are sent to Transportation Commission for actionCommission for action$2.3 million obligated$2.3 million obligated

WyomingWyoming

The LTAP Center at the University of The LTAP Center at the University of Wyoming is working with the 23 counties Wyoming is working with the 23 counties and the State to identify eligible HRRR and the State to identify eligible HRRR locations and projects. locations and projects. Volume data is very limited on these Volume data is very limited on these roads.roads.No funds obligated yetNo funds obligated yet

Best Practices Guide for Best Practices Guide for High Risk Rural Roads High Risk Rural Roads

(in development)(in development)

Information on states that have been Information on states that have been successful implementing the HRRR successful implementing the HRRR program and how they have done itprogram and how they have done it

Road Safety Audit (RSA) Road Safety Audit (RSA)

PeerPeer‐‐toto‐‐Peer Program, TrainingPeer Program, TrainingQuarterly Newsletter Quarterly Newsletter 

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/rsahttp://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/rsa

Crash Reduction Factors Crash Reduction Factors

Example: installation of centerline rumble Example: installation of centerline rumble strips on a twostrips on a two--way roadway can expect a way roadway can expect a 14% reduction in all crashes and a 55% 14% reduction in all crashes and a 55% reduction in headreduction in head--on crashes. on crashes. http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/toolshttp://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/toolsNew New -- NHI web based training is also NHI web based training is also available available

Nine Proven Safety Nine Proven Safety Countermeasures Countermeasures

(July 10, 2008 Safety Memo)(July 10, 2008 Safety Memo)

Road Safety AuditsRoad Safety AuditsRumble Strips and Rumble StripesRumble Strips and Rumble StripesMedian BarriersMedian BarriersSafety EdgeSafety EdgeRoundaboutsRoundabouts

Countermeasures Countermeasures -- cont.cont.

Left and Right Turn Lanes at Stop Left and Right Turn Lanes at Stop Controlled IntersectionsControlled IntersectionsYellow Change IntervalsYellow Change IntervalsMedians and Pedestrian Refuge Areas in Medians and Pedestrian Refuge Areas in Urban and Suburban AreasUrban and Suburban AreasWalkwaysWalkways

ConclusionConclusion

Challenges exist in some states and localities Challenges exist in some states and localities such as limited crash data, traffic data and such as limited crash data, traffic data and staffing and other resources.staffing and other resources.Some states have found a variety of ways to Some states have found a variety of ways to meet these challengesmeet these challengesStates partnering with States partnering with LTAPsLTAPs, local governments , local governments and their associations can be valuableand their associations can be valuableExchanging information and practices among Exchanging information and practices among peers can lead to solutions peers can lead to solutions

http://http://safety.fhwa.dot.govsafety.fhwa.dot.gov